Vacuum cleaner inlet coupling and air regulator



Maly7,1'9'68v L. J. SZABO 3,381,328

VACUUM CLEANER INLET COUPLING AND AIR REGULATOR Filed March 24, 1966 3Sheets-Sheet 1 I 3 lllllllllllllh a M w fifty/7g y 7, 1963 L. J. SZABO3,381,328

VACUUM CLEANER INLET COUPLING AND AIR REGULATOR Filed March 24, 1966 5heets-Sheet 2 fhre/naf" [00/3 525-60 May 7, 1968 L. J. SZA'BO 3,381,328

VACUUM CLEANER INLET COUPLING AND AIR REGULATOR Filed March 24. 1966 3Sheets-Sheet 3 j o 0 v ,4

i l J [Fix e0 far [aw/s .Szaba @Wy/W United States Patent "ice 3,381,328VACUUM CLEANER INLET COUPLING AND AIR REGULATOR Louis J. Szaho, FairviewPark, Ohio, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of NewYork Filed Mar. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 537,062 Claims. (Cl. -327) ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A combined air inlet coupling and suction regulatorfor a vacuum cleaner wherein an inner surface is formed for receivingand gripping a tubular hose coupling. An air regulator ring is providedfor selectively controlling an air bypass opening.

This invention relates to a vacuum cleaner and, more particularly, to aconstruction for coupling a vacuum cleaner hose to a vacuum cleaner andfor regulating the amount of suction at a cleaning tool.

In the manufacture of vacuum cleaners, it has been customary to providean arrangement for coupling a vacuum cleaner hose to a vacuum cleanercasing. It has also been customary to provide an air bypass valvearrangement in order to regulate the amount of suction which is appliedat a cleaning tool. With such a bypass valve arrangement, some suctioninlet air is permitted to flow directly to the vacuum cleaner fanwithout flowing through the cleaning tool, thereby reducing the amountof suction at the cleaning tool. In prior art devices, such a bypassvalve has been located on the cleaning tool, on a hose leading to thecleaning tool, or on the vacuum cleaner casing spaced some distance fromthe vacuum cleaner air inlet coupling. A simple low cost arrangement forcoupling a vacuum cleaner hose to a vacuum cleaner, and a low costreliable arrangement for regulating the amount of suction which isapplied at a cleaning tool is especially desirable.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide aunique combined air inlet coupling and suction regulator construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide a suction regulatorhaving a minimum number of parts which may be easily manufactured andassembled.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a combined vacuumcleaner air inlet coupling and suction regulator which is highlyeffective, reliable, and easy to use.

In accordance with one aspect of my invention, a vacuum cleaner isprovided with a casing for enclosing an electric motor and a suctionfan. A uniquely formed air intake adapter is positioned on the casing.The adapter includes an inner surface for receiving and gripping atubular hose coupling to permit suction air to flow through the tubularhose coupling to the suction fan. An opening is formed in the adapterfor permitting suction air to bypass the tubular hose coupling, andmeans is provided for selectively closing the opening in order tocontrol the flow of bypass air. By this arrangement, the unique adapterholds a vacuum cleaner hose coupling and also functions as a suctionregulator. Thus, a very simple, yet effective construction is providedfor coupling a vacuum cleaner hose to a vacuum cleaner and forregulating the amount of suction which may be applied at a cleaningtool.

Other objects and attendant advantages of this invention will beapparent when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner em 3,381,328 PatentedMay 7, 1968 bodying my invention with parts shown broken away forpurposes of clarity in illustration;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view showing my improved combined couplingand suction regulator;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on the line and in the direction of thearrows 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on the line and in the direction of thearrows 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view on the line and in the direction of thearrows 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the coupling and suctionrgulator shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the adapter shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view partially in cross section of atubular hose coupling.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a vacuum cleaner embodying myunique combined air inlet coupling and suction regulator 2. As shown,the cleaner includes a casing 4 having generally vertical front, rearand side walls 6, 8 and 10, respectively. A motor fan unit 12 ispositioned inside of the casing for causing air to flow through asuction cleaning tool (not shown), through a hose coupling 14, in theair inlet coupling 2, through a filter bag 16, through the motor fanunit 12, and then to exhaust from the casing, as shown by the arrows.

In accordance with my invention, the combined air inlet coupling andsuction regulator 2 includes an integral one piece adapter 3, as shownin the left portion of FIG. 6. The adapter is preferably formed of highimpact styrene plastic or other suitable material which may be readilymolded to include the surfaces, grooves and other portions of theadapter.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 4, adapter 3 includes a generallycylindrical inner wall 18 having a generally cylindrical inner surface20 for gripping the tubular hose coupling 14. A wall 22 is spacedoutwardly from wall 18 in order to provide an air bypass passage 24between the inner surface 26 of wall 22 and wall 18, and as shown moreparticularly in FIG. 6, integrally formed openings 44 and 46 extendthrough wall 22 to provide inlets for the air bypass passage 24.

A plurality of screw receiving lugs 28, 30 and 32 are also integrallyformed with my unique adapter for connecting the adapter to the frontwall 6 of the casing. As shown, the lugs 28, 30 and 32 are positionedbetween wall 18 and wall 22 and, thus, also serve to support and connectthese walls to each. other. A generally vertical wall 34 extendsoutwardly from walls 18 and 22 and a plurality of screw receiving lugs36, 38, 40 and 42 are also integrally formed with wall 34 to provideadditional means for connecting wall 34 of the adapter 3 to the casing4.

It is desired that the air bypass openings 44 and 46 be selectivelyclosed and opened for controlling the amount of air which is permittedto flow through the bypass pas sage 24. In order to achieve this, areadily formed plastic ring 48.is positioned over the outer surface ofadapter wall 22, and, as shown more particularly in FIG. 6, the forwardportion of the outer wall 22 is generally cylindrical in shape so thatit fits the inner surface of the cylindrical ring 48. Adapter 3 alsoincludes an annular circumferential groove 50 which is integrally formedin the forward outer portion of Wall 22. A complementary inwardlyextending circumferential projection 52 is integrally formed on an innersurface of ring 48 for rotating within groove 50. As shown in the rightportion of FIG. 6, ring 48 is split at 54 so that it may be expanded asit is pushed over the adapter 3 to insert projection 52 within groove50. With this construction, the ring may be readily rotated with respectto the adapter 3, and the cooperation of projection 52 with groove 50effectively prevents axial removal of the ring 48 from the adapter 3while it is being rotated.

As shown in the right portion of FIG. 6, a generally rectangular opening60 is provided in the air regulator ring. A maximum amount of air bypassis achieved when the rectangular opening 60 in the ring is placed overthe enlarged rectangular opening 44 at the left side of the adapter 3. Alesser amount of air is bypassed when the rectangular opening 60 isplaced over the smaller rectangular opening 46 in the adapter, and itcan also be perceived that no air is bypassed when the enlarged opening60 i placed over any of the solid cylindrical wall portions of theadapter. Of course, the air which is bypassed does not flow through thesuction cleaning tool (not shown) or the tubular hose coupling 14. Itflows through opening 60, opening 44 or 46, axially through bypasspassage 24 which is located outwardly from coupling 14, to the end ofthe adapter and the tubular hose coupling 14. The air then flows throughthe motor fan unit 12 and to exhaust. With this arrangement, it can beseen that the amount of air which is caused to bypass the cleaning toolmay be readily regulated by simply rotating air regulator ring 48.

A detent arrangement is provided so that an operator may easily discernwhen the air regulator ring is placed in any one of the threeaforementioned positions. As shown more particularly in FIGS. 4 and 6,three indenrations, 62, 64 and 66, are formed in the outer cylindricalsurface of the adapter for cooperation with a projection 68 whichextends inwardly from the inner surface of the air regulator ring.Accordingly, when projection 68 is positioned within indentation 62,opening 60 in the air ring is positioned over the opening 46 which isformed in the adapter. In like manner, when projection 68 is positionedwithin indentation 64, opening 60 in the air ring is positioned over thesolid wall portion between openings 44 and 46, and no air is bypassed.

A tubular hose coupling 14 for insertion within my unique adapter 3 ismore particularly shown in FIG. 8. The coupling includes a generallycylindrical tube 70 for reception by the inner surface 20 of wall 18. Aslot 72 is provided in the tube for receiving a latch arrangement 74. Asshown, the latch includes an integrally formed push button 76 and catch78 which are mounted on a leaf spring 80. As shown, a rivet 82 or othersuitable securing means is provided for connecting a forward portion ofthe leaf spring to the tube. With this construction, the tubularcoupling 14 may be connected within the adapter 3 by simply depressingbutton 76 and pushing the coupling into the adapter until the outersurface of the coupling is securely gripped by the inner surface 20 ofthe adapter. With particular reference to FIG. 3, it can be seen thatwhen the push button is released, catch 78 is positioned within a recess84 which is integrally formed at the upper portion of wall 18 in orderto securely hold coupling 14 on the adapter 3.

As shown more particularly in FIG. 3, a member 86 may also be providedfor holding the adapter 3 on the vacuum cleaner. The member includes aplurality of screw receiving lugs 88. As shown, screws 90 are insertedthrough lugs 88, through apertures formed in front wall 6, and into thescrew receiving lugs 28, 30 and 32 of the adapter 3 for securely holdingthe adapter 3 and the member 86 to the front wall 6 of the vacuumcleaner casing. To complete the assembly, screws 94 extend throughapertures formed in the front wall 6 of the casing, and into the screwreceiving lugs 36, 38, 40 and 42 formed at the corners of the adapterwall 34 in order to securely hold wall 34 in contact with the front wall4 of the vacuum cleaner casing.

In view of the foregoing, it can be appreciated that my combined airinlet coupling and suction regulator utilizes a minimum number of partswhich may be easily formed and assembled to each other. The principalpart of this unique combination is a one-piece adapter 3 which is moldedto include a number of portions which provide a plurality of functions.Since the adapter 3 also function to provide suction air regulation, thenumber of part which are usually necessary to achieve an air inletcoupling and a suction regulator have been substantially reduced. It canalso be appreciated that the adapter 3 provides a rigid construction forsecurely holding the tubular hose coupling 14.

One of the additional advantages of this improved construction is thatthe operator of the vacuum cleaner may readily rotate the air regulatorring 48 to the appropriate bypass control position while the tubularhose coupling 14 is being inserted within the adapter 3.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of myinvention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the air that variouschanges and modifications can be made therein without departing from theinvention and therefore it is aimed in the appended claims to cover allsuch changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scopeof the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a casing for housing an electric motor and a suction fan, saidcasing having a wall;

(b) a tubular hose coupling;

(0) an integrally formed air intake adapter fixed to said casing wall;

((1) a first generally cylindrical inner surface formed on said adapterfor receiving and gripping said tubular hose coupling, said tubular hosecoupling extending completely through said adapter and said casing wall;

(e) a second inner surface integrally formed on said adapter spacedoutwardly from and surrounding said first cylindrical surface to providea suction air bypass passage between said second surface and saidtubular hose coupling;

(f) an opening formed in said adapter for permitting suction air tobypass said hose coupling;

(g) an air regulator ring mounted on said adapter for rotary movementwith respect to said adapter; and

(h) an opening formed in said air regulator ring so that said ring maybe rotated to permit the opening formed in said ring to register withthe opening formed in the air intake adapter to thereby control theamount of bypass air.

2. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a casing for housing an electric motor and a suction fan;

(b) a tubular hose coupling;

(c) an integrally formed air intake adapter positioned on said casing;

(d) a first generally cylindrical inner surface formed on said adapterfor receiving and gripping said tubular hose coupling;

(e) a second inner surface integrally formed on said adapter spacedoutwardly from said first cylindrical surface to provide a suction airbypass passage between said second surface and said tubular hosecoupling;

(f) an opening formed in said adapter for permitting suction air tobypass said hose coupling;

(g) an air regulator ring mounted on said adapter for rotary movementwith respect to said adapter;

(h) an opening formed in said air regulator ring so that said ring maybe rotated to permit the opening formed in said ring to register withthe opening formed in the air intake adapter to thereby control theamount of bypass air;

(i) a plurality of openings of various sizes formed in said adapter sothat said air regulator ring may be rotated to any one of a plurality ofpositions to permit the opening formed in said ring to register with anyone or none of the openings formed in the air intake adapter to therebycontrol the amount of bypass air; and

(j) a plurality of indentations formed in said adapter, and an inwardlyextending projection formed on said ring so that as said ring is rotatedsaid projection may snap into one of said indentations when the openingin said ring registers with one of the openings in said adapter.

3. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a casing for housing an electric motor and a suction fan; (b) atubular hose coupling;

'(c) an integrally formed air intake adapter positioned on said casing;

(d) a first generally cylindrical inner surface formed on said adapterfor receiving and gripping said tubular hose coupling;

(e) a second inner surface integrally formed on said adapter spacedoutwardly from said first cylindrical surface to provide a suction airbypass passage between said second surface and said tubular hosecoupling;

(f) an opening formed in said adapter for permitting suction air tobypass said hose coupling;

(g) an air regulator ring mounted on said adapter for rotary movementwith respect to said adapter;

(h) an opening formed in said air regulator ring so that said ring maybe rotated to permit the opening formed in said ring to register withthe opening formed in the air intake adapter to thereby control theamount of bypass air; and

(i) a plurality of screw receiving lugs integrally formed on saidadapter between said first and second surfaces for connecting saidadapter to said casing.

4. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a casing for housing an electric motor and a suction fan;

(b) a tubular hose coupling;

(c) an integrally formed air intake adapter positioned on said casing;

(d) a first generally cylindrical inner surface formed on said adapterfor receiving and gripping said tubular hose coupling;

(e) a second inner surface integrally formed on said adapter spacedoutwardly from said first cylindrical surface to provide a suction airbypass passage between said second surface and said tubular hosecoupling;

(f) an opening formed in said adapter for permitting suction air tobypass said hose coupling;

g) an air regulator ring mounted on said adapter for rotary movementwith respect to said adapter;

(h) an opening formed in said air regulator ring so that said ring maybe rotated to permit the opening formed in said ring to register withthe opening formed in the air intake adapter to thereby control theamount of bypass air; and

(i) a recess integrally formed in the first inner surface of saidadapter for receiving a latch which is positioned on said tubular hosecoupling.

5. A vacuum cleaner comprising:

(a) a casing for housing an electric motor and a suction fan, saidcasing having generally Vertical front, rear and side walls;

(b) a generally cylindrical tubular hose coupling;

(c) an integrally formed plastic air intake adapter positioned on thefront wall of said casing;

(d) a generally cylindrical inner surface integrally formed on saidadapter for receiving and gripping said tubular hose coupling to permitair to flow through said tubular hose coupling to said suction fan;

(e) a second inner surface integrally formed on said adapter spacedradially outward from said first inner surface to provide a suction airbypass passage between said second inner surface and said tubular hosecoupling;

(f) said adapter having a generally cylindrical outer surface;

(g) an opening formed in said adapter extending through said secondinner surface and said outer surface;

(h) an annular circumferential groove integrally formed in saidgenerally cylindrical outer surface; (i) a plurality of indentationsformed in said outer cylindrical surface;

(j) a generally cylindrical air regulator ring;

(k) said ring including an inwardly extending circumferential projectionfor insertion within said circumferential groove so that said ring isheld in place on said adapter and may be rotated with respect to saidcylindrical adapter; and

(l) an opening extending through said air regulator ring whereby saidring may be rotated to permit the opening in said ring to register Withthe opening in said adapter to thereby permit suction air to flowthrough the opening in said ring, through the opening in said adapterand through the bypass passage 'between the tubular hose coupling andthe second inner surface of said adapter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,071,982 2/1937 Martinet 2857 XR3,332,101 7/1967 Leinfelt et al l5-421 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 137,078 5/1950 Australia.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner.

